Category: FAMILY

God Can’t Save My Child

The bumbling toddler that used to cling to your leg constantly has become a teen who would rather text than speak to you. What happened? Where did your once over-talkative little girl go? What has this lanky boy who grunts with downturned eyes during conversation done...

John G Paton’s Father: A Key to His Courage

John G. Paton was a missionary to the New Hebrides, today called Vanuatu, in the South Seas. He was born in Scotland in 1824. I gave my Pastors’ Conference message about him because of the courage he showed throughout his 82 years of life. When I...

How to Invest in Your Child’s Conversion

Many parents of unconverted children have come to realize through sound biblical teaching that salvation is God’s work, not something they can accomplish on behalf of their children. They know that God must draw the child to himself by giving him a new heart if he...

Leaving a Godly Legacy

A good workman knows that it takes time to build a home that will last for decades. He skillfully lays the groundwork and refuses to cut corners as he pieces together a solid frame. In the same way, we need to build a spiritual foundation in...

Motives for a Holy and Careful Education of Children

Editor’s Note: Richard Baxter recognized the fact that conversion is God’s work, not man’s. He also recognized that children sometimes reject even the best biblical instruction and training. The strong language in the following piece is not directed toward those parents who have diligently instructed and...

Our Goals as Grandparents

It hardly seemed possible just a few years ago, but we are suddenly grandparents. Don’t get me wrong; they weren’t unexpected. The grandchildren were all preceded by courtship and engagement and weddings and honeymoons (and yes, at least nine more months). It’s also not like we...

Comfort for Christian Parents of Unconverted Children

All Christian parents wish that God would show us something to do that would secure our child’s salvation, and then “we’ll do it with all our might” because we love our child so much. Yet, God has not made salvation the effect of somebody else’s faith;...

Children, Obey Your Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.Ephesians 6:1  Children have become experts these days at stretching and re-interpreting the words of Ephesians 6:1. The result has been to redefine various forms of rebellion as obedience. Even worse, parents have all too often...

Can You Let Them Go? When Kids Want to Serve God Away From Home

Trevor Johnson, missionary to Papua New Guinea, is adjusting to the tribal missionary lifestyle. In recent days he and his family have gone through dengue fever, malaria, scabies and other parasites, plus “jungle gut.” In his recent letter he said things were looking much better now,...

Back to School for the Glory of God

When I was in school, summer vacation always went too fast. Somehow three months off felt like only three weeks, and suddenly I found myself standing in the school supplies aisle at Wal-Mart anticipating the beginning of another year. As I reflect back on my schooling,...